A chapter on early Williamson County, Illinois church history appears in an 1887 local history, available for free [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofgallati00chic online], beginning on page 515.

A chapter on early Williamson County, Illinois church history appears in an 1887 local history, available for free [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofgallati00chic online], beginning on page 515.

*[http://www.arnoldview.org/aboutus.html The History of ArnoldView FreeWill Baptist Church]

*[http://www.arnoldview.org/aboutus.html The History of ArnoldView FreeWill Baptist Church]

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*Bethel Old School or Predestinarian Baptist Association et al. ''Minutes of the Bethel Association of Old School or Predestinarian Baptists, 1932-1954: Volume 3A''. 1932-1954. {{FHL|1183661|item|disp=}}.<br>

+

*Bethel Old School or Predestinarian Baptist Association et al. ''Minutes of the Bethel Association of Old School or Predestinarian Baptists, 1932-1954: Volume 3A''. 1932-1954. {{FHL|1183661|item|disp=}}.<br>

*Boyd, Harry C. ''Second in Name Only: A Recounting of the First Ninety Years of Marion Second Baptist Church''. Marion, Ill.: Second Baptist Church, 2000. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44911917 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]

*Boyd, Harry C. ''Second in Name Only: A Recounting of the First Ninety Years of Marion Second Baptist Church''. Marion, Ill.: Second Baptist Church, 2000. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44911917 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]

*'''[Childers]'''. ''Cast a Long Shadow: A Saga of Three Generations of a Southern Illinois Family, Reaching from Williamson County to Belgaum, India''. Wilmore, Ky.: R. Seamands, 1994. {{FHL|957957|item|disp=FHL&nbsp;Book 929.273 C437sr}}; digital version at [http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/FH36,2860 Family History Archives].<br>

+

*'''[Childers]'''. ''Cast a Long Shadow: A Saga of Three Generations of a Southern Illinois Family, Reaching from Williamson County to Belgaum, India''. Wilmore, Ky.: R. Seamands, 1994. {{FHL|957957|item|disp=FHL&nbsp;Book 929.273 C437sr}}; digital version at [http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/FH36,2860 Family History Archives].<br>

'''1836-present''' The original land and property records for Williamson County are held by the County Recorder. See the [[Williamson County, Illinois Courthouse|Williamson County Courthouse]] page for contact information. The following copies are available:<br>

+

'''1836-present''' The original land and property records for Williamson County are held by the County Recorder. See the [[Williamson County, Illinois Courthouse|Williamson County Courthouse]] page for contact information. The following copies are available:<br>

:*'''Beginning 1820''' [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 Land Patent Search] See [[Illinois Land and Property#State_Records|Illinois Land and Property]] for more information about this database.

+

:*'''Beginning 1820''' [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 Land Patent Search] See [[Illinois Land and Property#State_Records|Illinois Land and Property]] for more information about this database.

:*'''1796–1907''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1246 U.S. General Land Office Records] found at Ancestry.com ($)

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:*'''1796–1907''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1246 U.S. General Land Office Records] found at Ancestry.com ($)

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:*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3780 Illinois Public Land Purchase Records] This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

+

:*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3780 Illinois Public Land Purchase Records] This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

[[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] See also [[Williamson County, Illinois#Census|Census]]

[[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] See also [[Williamson County, Illinois#Census|Census]]

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==== War of 1812 ====

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==== ''War of 1812'' ====

Veterans of the War of 1812 settled in Williamson County.

Veterans of the War of 1812 settled in Williamson County.

Line 328:

Line 332:

*''List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance...'' Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. {{FHL|286899|item|disp=FHL Book 973 M2Lp v. 3}}; digital versions at [http://books.google.com/books?id=17kqAAAAMAAJ&oe=UTF-8 Google Books] and [http://www.archive.org/details/listpensionerso00buregoog Internet Archive]. [See Vol. 3, Illinois, Williamson County, pp. 640-642. Identifies War of 1812 and other veterans living in the county in 1883.]

*''List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance...'' Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. {{FHL|286899|item|disp=FHL Book 973 M2Lp v. 3}}; digital versions at [http://books.google.com/books?id=17kqAAAAMAAJ&oe=UTF-8 Google Books] and [http://www.archive.org/details/listpensionerso00buregoog Internet Archive]. [See Vol. 3, Illinois, Williamson County, pp. 640-642. Identifies War of 1812 and other veterans living in the county in 1883.]

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==== Civil War ====

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==== ''Civil War'' ====

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Civil War service men from Williamson County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Williamson County.<br>

+

Civil War service men from Williamson County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Williamson County.<br>

*Baird, S. S. ''Williamson County, Illinois, in the World War: Containing a Brief Review of the World War, Complete History of Williamson County's Activities, Photographs and Service Records of Williamson County's Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, Industrial Review of Business and Professional Firms Who Have Made This History Possible.'' Marion: Williamson County War History Society, c1919. Digital versions at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=29308 Ancestry] ($); [http://www.archive.org/details/williamsoncounty00bair Internet Archive].

*Baird, S. S. ''Williamson County, Illinois, in the World War: Containing a Brief Review of the World War, Complete History of Williamson County's Activities, Photographs and Service Records of Williamson County's Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, Industrial Review of Business and Professional Firms Who Have Made This History Possible.'' Marion: Williamson County War History Society, c1919. Digital versions at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=29308 Ancestry] ($); [http://www.archive.org/details/williamsoncounty00bair Internet Archive].

:*'''1830-1926''' [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilwillia/wmsonbirths/Births.html Selected births]&nbsp; Courtesy of the The American History and Genealogy Project.&nbsp;

:*'''1830-1926''' [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilwillia/wmsonbirths/Births.html Selected births]&nbsp; Courtesy of the The American History and Genealogy Project.&nbsp;

Line 434:

Line 440:

==== Marriage ====

==== Marriage ====

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'''1839–present''' - The original Williamson County&nbsp;marriage records 1877-present are housed at the [[Williamson County, Illinois#County_Courthouse|County Clerk's]] office. <br>Copies of marriage licenses and other marriage records are available through the [[Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)|Illinois Regional Archives Depository]] system at [[IRAD - Southern Illinois University|Southern Illinois University]]. [[Illinois Archives and Libraries#Illinois_Regional_Archives_Depository_System_.28IRAD.29|How to use IRAD]] <br>

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'''1839–present''' - The original Williamson County&nbsp;marriage records 1877-present are housed at the [[Williamson County, Illinois#County_Courthouse|County Clerk's]] office. <br>Copies of marriage licenses and other marriage records are available through the [[Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)|Illinois Regional Archives Depository]] system at [[IRAD - Southern Illinois University|Southern Illinois University]]. [[Illinois Archives and Libraries#Illinois_Regional_Archives_Depository_System_.28IRAD.29|How to use IRAD]] <br>

'''1877–present '''The original Williamson County death records 1877–present are housed at the [[Williamson County, Illinois#County_Courthouse|County Clerk's]] office. The following copies are available:<br>

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'''1877–present '''The original Williamson County death records 1877–present are housed at the [[Williamson County, Illinois#County_Courthouse|County Clerk's]] office. The following copies are available:<br>

:*'''1916–1950 '''[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilwillia/ildeaths-split.htm Williamson County deaths ]abstracted from the Illinois Statewide Death Index, Courtesy of the The American History and Genealogy Project. (Scroll to the screen bottom for alphbetical links.)

:*'''1916–1950 '''[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilwillia/ildeaths-split.htm Williamson County deaths ]abstracted from the Illinois Statewide Death Index, Courtesy of the The American History and Genealogy Project. (Scroll to the screen bottom for alphbetical links.)

:*'''Pre-1916''' As of March 2011, the Illinois State Archive database [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/death.html Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916] does NOT&nbsp;include any Williamson County deaths.

:*'''Pre-1916''' As of March 2011, the Illinois State Archive database [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/death.html Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916] does NOT&nbsp;include any Williamson County deaths.

Williamson County Organization

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Williamson County are kept, see the Williamson County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts

Williamson County, Illinois is named for Williamson County, Tennessee because of the many settlers who originated from that area.

1839--Williamson County was created 28 February 1839 from Franklin County.County seat:Marion[1]

Boundary Changes

The present area of Williamson County, or parts of it, were at one time included in the following counties[2]:

To see a list of places in Williamson County, click on [Show], in the bar above. The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. Localities listed in red have no wiki page yet. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Records and Resources

Biography

Cemeteries

The Illinois Cemeteries page provides general explanations of the following online Williamson County resources:

1840 Pensioners

A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. FHL 973 X2pc 1840; FHL 2321; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Williamson County on page 188.]

Church Records

A chapter on early Williamson County, Illinois church history appears in an 1887 local history, available for free online, beginning on page 515.

Tanner, Delores and Springhill Missionary Baptist Church (Stonefort, Ill.). From Sweet Gum Trees on Sugar Creek to Pine Trees on a Hill with a Spring: A 150-year History of Springhill Missionary Baptist Church and Gum Springs and Pleasant Hill. Ill.: D. Tanner, 1999. WorldCat (Other Libraries)

Catholic

FamilySearch has made parish records from four Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Williamson County available online (free registration is required). The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:

Malone, Daisy Hearne Roberts. A Group of Family Trees of the Early Settlers of Corinth Township, Williamson County, Illinois and Allied Families. Pueblo, Colo.: Rocky Mountain Bank Note Co., 1939. FHL Book 977.3993/C1 D2m

[Childers]. Cast a Long Shadow: A Saga of Three Generations of a Southern Illinois Family, Reaching from Williamson County to Belgaum, India. Wilmore, Ky.: R. Seamands, 1994. FHL Book 929.273 C437sr; digital version at Family History Archives.

[Cox] Cox, Avis E. and Marion R. Cox. From the Banks of the Dan, a Cox Family Genealogy. Winona, Minn.: A.E. and M.R. Cox, 1994. FHL Book 929.273 C839fc.

[Culbreath] Green, John Stinson. Leroy Culbreath and Mary Fulk of Williamson County, Illinois and Stafford County, Kansas. Wichita, Kan.: J.S. Green, 199-?. FHL Fiche 6004641; digital version at Family History Archives.

History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois: From the Earliest Time to the Present, Together with Sundry and Interesting Biographical Sketches, Notes, Reminiscences, etc., etc. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887. Digital versions at Ancestry ($) (1967 reprint); Internet Archive.

Centennial History of McKendree College. 1928. Digital version at The USGenWeb Project. Includes chapters on St. Clair's history under French rule, under British rule, under American rule, and information about early settlers.

Land and Property

1836-present The original land and property records for Williamson County are held by the County Recorder. See the Williamson County Courthouse page for contact information. The following copies are available:

Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)

Maps

Military

Revolutionary War

War of 1812

Veterans of the War of 1812 settled in Williamson County.

List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. FHL Book 973 M2Lp v. 3; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 3, Illinois, Williamson County, pp. 640-642. Identifies War of 1812 and other veterans living in the county in 1883.]

Civil War

Civil War service men from Williamson County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Williamson County.

World War I

Baird, S. S. Williamson County, Illinois, in the World War: Containing a Brief Review of the World War, Complete History of Williamson County's Activities, Photographs and Service Records of Williamson County's Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, Industrial Review of Business and Professional Firms Who Have Made This History Possible. Marion: Williamson County War History Society, c1919. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.

1853–1919 Probate records are also available in Illinois, Probate Records, 1819-1970. Click on the browse through images link, select Williamson County, and select the record type you are interested in.

Repositories

County Courthouse

County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Williamson County are kept, see the Williamson County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)

IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Williamson County.

The Williamson County Marriage Project is a user-contributed listing of about 600 Williamson County marriages. Many listings include e-mail contact information for the individual who contributed the information.

Deaths

1877–present The original Williamson County death records 1877–present are housed at the County Clerk's office. The following copies are available: